With fast-paced lifestyles, it’s easy to get a quick fill-up on high-calorie foods, sweet drinks and sugary desserts. A diet like that can lead to obesity, increasing your risk of chronic disease, some types of cancers and other health conditions. Changing your eating habits can be easy. It’s just a matter of knowing what to eat and how much to consume.

The federal government has made it easy to know what kind of foods to eat to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The MyPlate guide to healthy eating breaks down the five basic food groups and shows you what a healthy dinner plate should look like. Use the MyPlate Strategy to help manage blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes.

It’s also important to know the difference between a portion and a serving . According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a portion is how much food you choose to eat at one time. A serving, or serving size, is the amount of food listed on a product’s Nutrition Facts, or food label.

Knowing the recommended portion size can help you lose weight and maintain a healthier lifestyle. Your portion sizes are unique and depend on several factors, such as your gender, age and daily activity. The information will help determine the total number of calories you should be eating each day.